Indio City Manager Retires Early

By Mike Daniels, News Channel 3 Reportermdaniels@kesq.com

INDIO -Indio’s city manager is calling it quits.

Glenn Southard announcedWednesday he’ll be retiring early and he’s hoping to take advantage of an early retirement incentive.

The city council is scheduled to vote on that next Wednesday. They are calling it the “Golden Handshake.” It’ll give him two bonus years towards retirement.

The city says it’ll save tax payer dollars. Others say it won’t, and he doesn’t deserve it.

“Why are we paying him a favor?” asked Michael Wilson, a former city councilman.

After five years as Indio city manager… Glenn Southard is planning on cashing in on an Indio early retirement program offered by the city.

But as you heard some don’t think he deserves it.

Former city council member of 13 years Wilson and Southard have had their differences in the past.

The announcement sent out Wednesday afternoonstarts out “I have decided to accept the early retirement incentive effective April 1.”

He’s talking about the golden handshake;a program that will be voted on by council members next Wednesday.

It gives employees 50 years old and older who have worked with the city for 5 years or more an incentive to retire early.

They’ll get 2 years added to their retirement and be paid out their accrued unspent vacation time.

Southard is one of the highest paid employees in the city of Indio.

Our calls to him went unreturned.

Some Indio residents are upset about the city dishing out the money at a time when its looking at a budget deficit. Others say pay up.

Wilson says the golden handshake as it’s called isn’t a good idea, and will end up costing the city money.

The city says that’s not the case in the long run it’ll save taxpayers 3 to 5 million dollars.

News Channel 3is being told by city officials they plan on 20 city employees taking the early retirement if its passed by city council.

Others says it’s close to 50 or 60 people.